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Assessing the Italian challenge at the EUROS

The four time world champion started their European campaign in a brilliant style by beating the favorites Belgium 2-0 as the football world was shocked by the performance of the Italians. It will not be enough as Italy has to go through the tough road in the latter stages of the competition.

Italian team has not got much to celebrate as they were eliminated from the group stages of last two world cups. Though they were the runner ups in the EURO 2012 but merely poked through the finals by beating Germany with the brilliance of Mario Balotelli and then there was the 4-0 humiliation by the Spanish team at the finals which everyone remembers.

Italy doesn’t have some fancy name on their team sheet as most of them are the age old names that are playing for the Italian national side, unlike the other European sides that have sublimely talented players in the squad. Here is the complete assessment of the Italian team at the EUROS.

Assessing the Italian challenge at the EUROS

Assessing the Italian challenge at the EUROS

Strengths

The first and foremost strength of the Azzuries when you look at their team sheet is their legendry goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. This guy hails for a different Era, an Era that produced the greatest goalkeeping talents and Buffon is one of them. The mighty experience of Buffon will be crucial as he is inspirable and can act as a leader of the team.

The defense is also a point where wild cards are least concerned as because they have the meanest defense in the Europe. Their defense is led by the Juventus players who form the core of this magnificent defense. Chielleni will be laid in the defense along with his all Juventus compatriots that includes Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. Manchester United man Matteo Darmian can also poke into the team considering his best season at Manchester United.

The Midfield also doesn’t have any popular name excluding the likes of Daniel de Rossi and Thiago Motta. Daniel de Rossi may be playing his last EUROS and hence will definitely want to leave a lasting impression. Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Parolo are also good additions to the Medfield. Stephen El Shaarawy who play his trade for AS Roma can be a wild card if he can reignite his form at this year’ EUROS.

The attack of, Italians also seems decent as they have the service Southampton Hitman Graziano Pelle, whose performances have been brilliant in the last few years. Eder and cero immobile can also fight for the striker position with their brilliant performances.

The one biggest advantage this Italian team has with them is the team spirit and experience which can be the reason that the Azzuries thrives in this competition.

Weakness

The one big weakness in the Italy team is the lack of any genuine young talent while the other teams have that in abundance. I don’t know what has happened to the Italian team but no bright and young Italian player has emerged on the European scene and that is a sign of a dark future ahead.

Andrea Pirlo will be badly missed as there is no name in the Italian team that can dictate the game like Andrea Pirlo used to do for the Italian team.

The Italian team also lacks a potent striker as the striker- it has included in the squad are all ordinary and there is no charismatic striker who on his day can bring the win home like Mario Balotelli did against Germany in the last Euros.

Verdict –Quarterfinalist

Well I hardly expect anything from then Italian team and everything they do will be the achievement. Quarterfinal is what I can predict for them at the EUORS and if they are lucky enough then maybe semi final, but they don’t have the quality to reach the finals and even if they did that will be a worthwhile achievement for them.